Ministers are prepared to resign over Rishi Sunak’s proposals for a new Brexit deal if it fails to protect the place of Northern Ireland in the UK, it was claimed last night.
One minister said they and others were willing to quit as fears grow over the Prime Minister rushing through a deal which could leave Ulster bound to existing and future EU single market rules.
At present goods crossing from Great Britain into Northern Ireland are subject to a number of bureaucratic customs checks by the EU, hindering trade within the United Kingdom.
“The naivety is astonishing. The strategy hasn't worked. People won't allow something that doesn't ensure sovereignty,” the minister told The Times.
Boris Johnson warned against axing the bill saying any such move would be 'a big mistake'
Victoria Jones
“Ministers will resign. I couldn't look myself in the eye and vote through something I thought would undermine sovereignty in Northern Ireland.”
Sunak is eager to scrap a piece of legislation that would give the UK the power to override elements of the Protocol in return for a new trading relationship with the EU for Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland Protocol Bill is currently stalled in the House of Lords.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned against scrapping the bill in favour of a new deal, adding that the move would be “a big mistake”.
Eurosceptic and Home Secretary Suella Braverman says the bill is one of the “biggest tools” ministers have when negotiating with the EU.
“We've been aware for some time now of challenges relating to trade, customs and sovereignty when it comes to Northern Ireland and the NI protocol,” she said.
“The legislation that the government introduced is one of the biggest tools we have in solving the problem on the Irish Sea.
“It's clear and it's right that the PM is committed to finding a pragmatic solution to resolve these issues which are affecting the people of Northern Ireland, and that we find a solution that's pragmatic and workable both for the EU and the UK.”
Sunak is set to hold a cabinet meeting today as anticipation grows that a deal could be drawing to a close.
There are hopes that a new settlement on Brexit arrangement in Northern Ireland will see the return of power sharing at the Stormont Assembly.
Keir Starmer has urged the Prime Minister to allow the Commons to have its say on any final deal.
Suella Braverman insists the current Northern Ireland Protocol Bill is among the 'biggest tools' for ministers
Danny Lawson
Last week the Labour party leader said he is willing to put "party politics to one side" to vote with the Government on the Northern Ireland deal.
It comes after former Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis called for reforms of the post-Good Friday Agreement architecture in Northern Ireland.
“The growth in the vote for the Alliance Party underlines the feeling that many more people now want to vote on issues, not on sectarian lines,” he wrote in The Telegraph.
“That should be embraced as the greatest success of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. But if the Agreement does not evolve further, under current rules, if Alliance and its vote share continues to grow, it will never have the right to nominate the First or Deputy First Minister.
“Democracy cannot succeed when it is set in tram lines that can never cross.”
